PHOENIX, AZ — The ACLU of Arizona announced today that Jennifer Allen will serve as their next Executive Director. Allen will lead the organization as it works to advance its statewide advocacy agenda that drives immigrant’s rights, LGBTQ+ equality, criminal justice reform, and education equity in the state of Arizona. Her scheduled start date is October 18.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jennifer to the ACLU of Arizona team. Our affiliate has been growing both in size and impact for several years, and we are confident that she is the right leader to build on this growth,” said ACLU of Arizona Board President May Lu. “With Jennifer at the helm, we will continue to expand our presence in the state and remain engaged in the most crucial battles our state faces. Her passion for leading a growing team and supporting the community stood out during our search. We look forward to her leadership and vision.”
Allen has deep roots in the community—with four generations of her family calling Arizona home, she has a vast knowledge of the difficulties advancing civil liberties and civil rights pose, especially in a challenging state political climate. Her enduring commitment to justice, health, equal opportunity, and dignity for all will help drive the ACLU of Arizona’s achievement of strategic goals under her leadership.
“It is a tremendous honor to be chosen to lead the ACLU of Arizona. Our state is a battleground for civil rights and liberties, and we are prepared to fight back and defend the rights of all,” said Allen. “I look forward to working with the board of directors, staff, and supporters to ensure that human dignity, opportunity, and safety is felt by everyone who calls Arizona home.”
Allen will bring more than twenty-five years of experience working towards transformation at local, state, and national levels. Most recently, she was the Senior Vice President of Community and Civic Engagement at the League of Conservation Voters (LCV). She also founded Chispa, LCV’s national community organizing program focused on protecting communities’ rights to clean air and water, healthy neighborhoods, and a safe climate. Prior to LCV, Allen was the founding Executive Director of Border Action Network, where she oversaw successful state and national advocacy campaigns to challenge anti-immigrant legislation, border vigilante groups, and to promote humane and just border policies and the human rights of migrants.
Allen’s extensive career includes overseeing grassroots community organizing, civic engagement, candidate recruitment and training, cultural strategies, rural economic and community development, and supporting land rights of indigenous communities throughout the southwest. She serves on the board of GreenLatinos, is an active member of Las Adelitas Arizona, and lives in Tucson with her family.
The ACLU of Arizona worked with Koya Partners on this search.
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